Work those bitchy gams

Wohp, almost having a Marilyn Monroe moment there. No, I didn't get into several affairs with several Kennedys. No, I didn't... just the dress, ok? The dress.

Dress-Market @ Hua Hin : Heels- borrowed from Pink's sister : Belt- MBK in Bangkok

What's Lovely for May 30, 2010: Remembering the weird mixture of nostalgia, euphoria, little bit of sadness, fear of change and a whole lot of relief that came with graduation. Maybe it'll be the same next time around, only with a lot more fear.

Apologies for the bright, glaring flash photo (don't glare at me for that, har har), but I wanted to share an outfit post that I thought was poignantly fitting. This was the first thing I bought in Thailand, and today (as my trip draws to a close) was the first time I wore it. Not only is the pleating gorgeous, but it makes walking hella fun (walk walk fashion baby). Though these shoes were murdering my feet, I think they were getting a little bit of Stockholm's syndrome, due to the fact that I kept on wearing them for the sake of "long legs." Yeesh.

Or in gay man speak: work those bitchy gams. Fierce. Chic. Yeah.

Is it weird that instead of the actual "Bad Romance" song, I had this tune stuck in my head for awhile? Even in parody, Gaga rules all.

Speeeeaking of music, this song makes me really want to work those gams up on the dance floor. My love affair with Janelle Monae and her epic (I use that definition aptly) videos continues.

Not only does Janelle mix this odd combination of music together, she's just fabulous down to a tee-- or rather, down to that formidable puff. THE PUFF.

We all float on (in the Floating Market)

Note: These photos were taken yesterday. Just to clear that up. Yeah.

What's Lovely for Friday, May 28, 2010: Going to a legit floating market (I apparently went to a "fake one" earlier in this trip) and actually floating in a boat and stuff. Like a Thai Venice. Or perhaps Venice is the Thai Floating Market, I'm pretty sure they've been afloat for longer. But don't quote me on that, the non-history major.

This was my point of view from where I was eating a scrumptious lunch of kale and pork. That's totally not in the picture, but I figured I'd keep you informed.

It was kinda hard to balance a coconut ice cream (in a coconut shell bowl!) while not rocking the boat, not rocking the boat, baby.

This will be the first of many photos I took of "people rowing in front of us" while on our route around the market. The perks of sitting in front, right?

What I marveled at was each shopkeeper's remarkable sense of balance.

Waterlogged traffic jam? I say yes.

Another amazing thing about Thailand: I can almost never identify what native fruit I see in front of me.

Once we turned around the river bend (subtle Pocahontas reference there), it suddenly became a very quiet place, since we arrived early in the afternoon and missed the busy morning business.

I've seen a forest of trees, but of coconut trees? Nice.

Don't ask me what's on that man's face, I have nooo idea myself.

What's Lovely for today, May 29, 2010: Dancing like a fool to Hall and Oates' "You Make My Dreams Come True."

I wish I could tell you where Pink got her clothes, but... I think a roughly accurate guesstimation is: from various marketplaces and shops in Thailand for all of them.

I apologize for the wonky expression, or lack thereof, on my face. I apparently forgot how to properly smile.

I was eager to try out denim and lace together after I saw a girl wearing an all-jean/chambray outfit with lace tights.

Lace top & tank- JJ Market @ Bangkok : Shorts- secondhand : Sandals- TJMaxx : Pearls- Night bazaar @ Hua Hin : Bag- borrowed from Pink

We found these amazing sunglasses whilst browsing the outdoor markets at Siam Square. It's a good look for her, no?

Let's go to the mall!

Everybody, come and play! Throw every last care away! Let's go to the mall! Today! OK, enough with the annoying plethora of exclamation points (brownie points to me for inserting "plethora" deftly into the conversation). Brownie points to YOU if you had any idea what song I was referring to just now. If you don't, then please wait to be enlightened.

I've been listening to this song consistently about ten times now. No joke, sad as that is.

You saw it? No? Oh come on, it's just a click. Let it load for awhile, then continue reading this post. Got it? Yay, good. Anyway, I couldn't help but be reminded of this catchy ditty when I decided to take photos in the mall today. And this isn't just any mall, either. It's this big, clean, swank one that's connected to a bunch of other malls and shops that range from high end to lower end. Dare I say, I was enthralled and was thoroughly shopped OUT by the end of the day. Geez.

That. I want it. Who says that corsets made out of feathers and lace are impractical? Pish posh.

It's very odd and most startling to think about how quickly downtown Bangkok turned itself back upright and in business just a week after the violent protests have ceased. On my way to the Paragon, which is the main behemoth of a mall, I saw the charred remains of some of the buildings nearby. When I stopped to take a picture, I saw that I wasn't the only one in disbelief-- even Thai people with their cameras were getting proof that this just happened in their city. To be honest, I never thought I'd have the opportunity to go downtown during my time here. I'm thankful that I did, though my sore feet would argue otherwise.

I don't usually wear rings-- at all, actually-- but I decided to take this jaguar for a spin. I also LOVE Pink's "Poker Face" ring, as I call it.

Look who's also featured in today's outfit post! Pink, usually behind the scenes, was wearing a tropically colorful outfit whereas I opted for a black and white vintage-y get-up.

Shopping is a tiring activity. One needs proper sustenance. Omnomnomnom, chocolate croissant from Starbucks.

Lately I had my first mani/pedicure and had my nails goldenrod (and seafoam toenails!) in honor of Michelle's fixation on yellow nail polish. The jaguar's name is Penelope Bernadette Jasperalla Powers. Ms. Jaspy for short.

Robin Sparkles was right: your cares just go away at the mall. But the bunions don't.

On Pink>> Jumper & various jewelry- Forever 21 : Cardigan- MINE from Gap : Sandals- some marketplace in Bangkok : Poker Face ring- Avenue in Bangkok

On me>> Dress worn as shirt- given to me from Pink : Shorts- stolen from Pink's sister, considering truly stealing it : Flats- Outlet mall in Thailand : Jaguar ring- Avenue in Bangkok

Fun fact: These bootylicious, broad-shoulder women are ... well, women who used to be bootylicious, broad-shouldered men. To be honest, I haven't seen many "hot mess fersoha trannies" in Thailand while I was here (which was why I was so excited to see a few recently).

What's Lovely for Tuesday, May 25, 2010: Spending a dizzying amount of time playing a game where you try to find rocks in the pool. Believe me, it's just as fun as it sounds.

What's Lovely for Wednesday, May 26, 2010: Overhearing some men speaking in Korean-- and being comforted at the sound and cadence of the language, even though not all is understood.

What's Lovely for today, May 27, 2010: Two words- Jeffrey Campbell.

I'll send you a postcard when I get there

I think ever since I arrived in Thailand, most of my pictures have been these giant epics, because I don't really see it fit to crop too much out of sprawling palaces or soaring temples. I guess in a sense, I want you to experience the crane-your-neck effect that I got when I first saw these jaw-dropping architectures. These posts are basically travel journal entries as well as a way of showing my daily outfits. But is it too much? What do y'all say: less, more pictures? Or just right?

What's Lovely for May 24, 2010: Seeing a postcard and realizing that you're going to the same places that are perfectly photographed in that tiny piece of paper.

Wat Benjama Bopit Dusit Wanaram Ratchaworawiharn... try saying that really quick five times (I just did, sounds like I'm affecting a terribly offensive and inaccurate Indian accent) ... also known by its nickname, Wat Benja, is the Marble Temple that looks more like it belongs in a painting, much less real life.

The obligatory hey-yeah-sure-take-a-pictre-of-me-sorta-smiling-because-I-don't-know-if-my-face-will-even-show-up-in-this-picture picture.

First there were three...

... then we brought out the bread and then there were THOUSANDS FLYING IN ALL AT ONCE IT WAS LIKE AHHHH NOOOO BIRD FLU.

For lunch, we dined at the United Nations building situated in Bangkok. It was the coolest cafeteria-- like the most diverse high school ever. Not to sound like a cheesy equality advert, but it was a thrilling feeling knowing that there were so many different people from different backgrounds all eating under one roof.

All that talk and I only have one decent-ish picture of the UN. WHATEVS, gosh.

At the end of the early morning, we arrived at-- are you with me, here?-- Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram (aka Wat Phra Kaew), otherwise known as the Grand Palace where the royal family used to live. It was all a jolly good time until I realized that Mr. Sun was being particularly strong and was making me all lightheaded. Some might call it love, but I call it dehydration.

I don't have a close-up of the vast painting, but each individual god-like figure here had gold flecks as their armor. A-may-zeeng.

Yeah you know me, just chillaxin' at a major big Buddhist temple, you know how I roll.

As Gaga would say: Show me your TEETH.

They might look frightening, but they're just stoned. *nudge nudge get it get it don't hate me*

We can totally take these guys.

The Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, or apparently called "Westerner with a Thai hat" due to its weird architecture, looked stunning from outside. Can you imagine STAYING there as a guest?

This is probably the most covered I've dressed so far in Thailand. This makes me sound like some sort of hussy (or my favorite phrase for an improper woman, a Jezebel), some variation of a tank and shorts is norm for me to survive here. However, Pink informed me that there were strict dress codes at both the Marble Temple and Grand Palace, that exposed shoulders, anything above the knees, tight clothing, etc. weren't allowed. So the trick was to dress appropriately, yet not too restricting. I'd like to think I worked around that, thanks to my awesomepants (one word, mind you).

What I love about these photos is that I'm just a small player in the large stage of these grand buildings. Plus, blue and gold work off of each other!

I FOUND GOLD, GOLD I TELLS YA. My water bottle was my favorite accessory; it kept me from passing out. Can a bracelet do that? I don't think so.

Not exactly feeling blue; if anything, I was red red burning hot in the literal sense of the word.

Shirt- Old Navy : Pants- Mom's originally : Belt- stolen from Pink, may steal permanently : Flats- Charlotte Russe

Searching for Mowgli

I hope you got your photo-lookin' raincoat on, because there's gonna be a wave of 'em today (I should stop talking like some sort of colloquial farmer who... blogs). I went back to the JJ Market and bought a-- what's the eloquent way to put it? Oh right, a crap ton of shiznit. I could barely carry all the bags, and shopping with Pink is either the greatest thing or the worst thing. Greatest, because I'm in Thailand with her and she's fun to shop with. Or worst thing, she's the worst enabler ever-- "you should totally get that!" which equals "more money shall be spent! muahahaha" At least today I was buying for everyone besides myself, so I actually felt really good about my heavy purchases. :)

Some of JJ Market is outside, while some are blissfully indoors. It's still open air, but at least indoors means that there's the occasional oasis of a fan.

I'm a huge Tintin fan (also Asterix! they had bags of them, too), but it was a bit too pricey for me. All I have is this picture *figurative tear*

Speaking of Tintin, was I the only one who thought of Tintin and the Secret of the Unicorn when I saw this ship? No? Anyone? Dang.

I just liked taking obligatory pictures of the aisles, there were so much merchandise! It was a confusing labyrinth of shops and alleyways in this area, we almost got lost.

Excuse me ma'am, may I take a picture of.... your.... shootdang.

Look, the tiniest of toy fruit! There probably is little use (har har) for them besides having a collection and arranging them like a mini grocery store.

I'm leaning back because up close, these cute birds are TERRIFYING all beaks and claws and whatnot.

Lunch was at a traditional-style Thai restaurant that had places to eat both indoors and outdoors, where they had these summer pavilions where we sat on cushions and ate in the shade. A bee came to join us for lunch, but he wasn't invited.

The view from where I sat. What I love most about Thailand are the plants and foliage. The large tropical leaves that never turn yellow or orange or red remind me that I'm not in the Midwest anymore.

Stir-fried kale with pork and spicy green curry...... mmmmmmmfoodpornmmmmm. Poor Pink bit right into a chili, though, OUCH.

Picture of ... eaten food and lemongrass tea. More amateur food porn.

Another wonderful thing about this restaurant is that it was right next to the big Chao Phraya river that runs through Bangkok.

We did some more outfit shots, then sat around for awhile then AHHHH A RED ANT LANDED ON ME IT BIT ME AHH GET IT OFF GET IT OFF PINK STOP LAUGHING AT ME. Yeah, that really happened. That was NOT a lovely thing about this place; tropics = many many insects and bugs.

Jumper- Night bazaar at Hua Hin : Keds- stolen from Mom : Headband- stolen from Pink's sister (thanks, Pear!), it's a pity you can't see how cute it is, it has black polka dots!

What's Lovely for May 23, 2010: Looking up, around and all about, and feeling like you've just landed in the Jungle Book.

Simply. Breathtaking.